Standout football performances from Week 0: Ryan Staub, Dijon Stanley impress
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Ryan Staub is putting everyone on notice — well — at least the Foothill League, that’s for sure.
The Colorado-bound quarterback led No. 7-ranked West Ranch to an impressive 61-41 win over No. 3 St. Francis Friday night by scoring seven total touchdowns. Staub threw for 305 yards and six touchdowns and ran for another. Will Siedel and Chaz Hilst each caught two touchdown passes.
The Wildcats are expected to contend for the program’s first-ever Foothill League title this fall, and a stunning victory like this one will draw a brighter light on coach Chris Varner’s program.
The victory will certainly lift West Ranch into the Daily News Top 5 rankings for the first time ever, but will they be able to deal with the high expectations for the first time, too? Only time will tell. The Wildcats will play at Buena High in Ventura next week.
What a catch by Chaz Hilst. West Ranch pulls ahead of St. Francis 48-34, 1:14 3Q. pic.twitter.com/k3kOwO2ybW
— Haley Sawyer (@haleymsawyer) August 20, 2022
Granada Hills Charter beat Arleta 54-0 in its season opener. The Highlanders debuted a running back tandem that will be hard to stop in Dijon Stanley (a Utah commit) and Darrell Stanley. Dijon ran for 170 yards on eight carries for two touchdowns and added a third touchdown on a 70-plus-yard punt return. Darrell added 130 yards on eight carries and two scores.
Calabasas delivered proverbial fireworks in its home opener. Running back King Miller ran for 125 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries in the Coyotes’ 41-14 win over Santa Monica. Calabasas debuted new quarterback Alonzo Contreras, who threw for 255 yards and two touchdowns on 14 of 16 passing. USC-bound wideout Aaron Butler had four catches for 172 yards, including touchdown receptions for 65 and 58 yards.
Notre Dame Sherman Oaks thumped Crespi 45-7 in Encino. Brennan Dragomer ran for 154 yards and three touchdowns to anchor the big win. Sophomore quarterback Wyatt Becker was 13 of 19 passing for 186 yards and two touchdowns. Wideout Erik Poudziunas had six receptions for 97 yards and two scores. Freshman Anthony Jones had three sacks and an interception.
Evan Nagy scored a last-minute touchdown to give Royal High a 21-14 win over defending Open Division City champion Birmingham Charter Friday night. Nagy threw for 126 yards on 15 of 20 passing for two touchdowns before running in the game-winning score. It was new coach Mike Puopolo’s first win as a varsity head coach.
Week 0 Wrap Up: Daily News high school football scores, stories and photos
Newbury Park freshman quarterback Brady Smigiel threw for 327 yards on 21 of 35 passes for four touchdowns and no interceptions in his varsity debut to lift the Panthers in a 38-21 win over Golden Valley. Smigiel’s father, Joe, is the new head coach at Newbury Park — he earns his first win as a varsity head coach.
Cleveland defeated Kennedy 27-12 thanks to Donovan Powell’s 164 yards on 18 carries and two scores. Quarterback Emiliano Lopez threw for 202 yards and a touchdown on 12 of 22 passing.